Competition

Entries for the 2018 Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize are now open. Artists have until 5pm ACDT on Friday 16 March 2018 to finalise their submissions. The Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize is a biennial competition.

The Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize was launched in 2002 and commemorates the birth of the South Australian Museum’s first curator, Frederick George Waterhouse. The prize is an opportunity for artists to investigate the world around them, and present their perspectives on natural science. It encourages artists to make a statement about the scientific issues facing our planet, and offers a valuable platform for them to contribute to the environmental debate. Over the years the competition has become a much loved fixture on the arts calendar, allowing artists and audiences to explore natural science through a range of creative outlets.

Prizes

Two main award categories are available, these being an Open Prize with a $30,000 prize and an Emerging Artist Prize with a $10,000 prize. A further $5,000 is available through the People’s Choice Dr Wendy Wickes Memoriam Prize and $5,000 through the Scientists’ Choice Award.

Who can enter?

Artists of any age, nationality and experience who create art relating to the natural world can enter the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize.

Entrants will self-identify for eligibility in the Open or Emerging categories, and can submit up to three artworks in their chosen cateogory. Emerging artists are those artists in the early years of their career and are often accepted to be the first five years of professional practice. For the purposes of the Waterhouse Prize, an emerging artist is defined as an artist who has either never had a solo exhibition, or had their first solo exhibition less than five years ago.

Cost of entry

The entry fee is AU$55 (plus GST) for each entry in the Open Prize, and AU$30 (plus GST) per entry in the Waterhouse Emerging Artists’ Prize. Artists can submit up to three entries in their chosen category.

What work is eligible?

Any form of visual fine art that relates to the natural world is eligible for the Waterhouse Prize, with the exception of photography. To be eligible, the work must have been produced no earlier than January 2016 and must relate to the natural world and the sciences associated with it, such as biology, geology, astronomy, chemistry and physics. Works relating to natural history are also eligible.

Works must not have any dimension greater than 2m in length and must fit through a standard door unassembled (2m x 0.9m).

Why no photography?

While many forms of digital art are eligible for the Waterhouse Prize, works of art that are photographs are not eligible. We encourage artists to consider entering their photographic work to the South Australian Museum’s The Australian GeographicNature Photographer of the Year competition.

What are the judging criteria?

Judges will make their decision on the artistic merit of the work. Judges will also consider the relationship to natural science or natural history represented by the work.

Barbara Maria Stafford (independent writer, curator and speaker whose work explores the intersections between the visual arts and the physical and biological sciences)

Brian Oldman (Director South Australian Museum)

How will the People’s Choice Dr Wendy Wickes Memoriam Prize be selected?

Visitors to the exhibition will be asked to nominate a work for the People’s Choice Dr Wendy Wickes Memoriam Prize. The work that receives the most votes wins this award.

How will the Scientists’ Choice Award be selected?

Visitors to the exhibition who are current members of a professional scientific society will be eligible to vote in the Scientists’ Choice Award. They will have the opportunity to nominate a work that they feel best meets the purpose of the Waterhouse Prize in presenting perspectives on natural science. The work that receives the most votes from the scientific community wins this award.

What are the key dates?

All relevant dates are in the rules. The competition opens on Wednesday 17 January 2018 and closes on Friday 16 March 2018 at 5:00pm ACDT. Shortlist judging occurs in early April, and artists will be advised by mid-April if they have been selected for exhibition. Winners of the open and emerging artist categories will be announced on Thursday 7 June 2018. The Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize exhibition runs from 8 June to 5 August 2018, with the People’s Choice Dr Wendy Wickes Memoriam Prize and Scientists’ Choice awards announced on Thursday 26 July 2018. The touring program will run from September through to the end of November 2018.

Do I have to allow my work to tour?

All works selected for exhibition must be available for the touring program if required.

How do I enter?

Entries to the 2018 Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize will be online only and will open on Wednesday 17 January 2018. Guidelines for entry are available here. Artists may enter up to three works. Artists will need to provide a one page CV outlining their artistic career.

Are works for sale?

Works selected for exhibition will be available for sale through the South Australian Museum Foundation. A sales commission will apply.

Do I need to provide an artist’s statement?

Only works selected for exhibition require an artist’s statement. Artists who are selected for exhibition will be asked to provide statement on the relationship between the work and the natural sciences. The statement will be no more than 100 words.

1. The Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize (“The Waterhouse”) is awarded by the South Australian Museum Foundation Incorporated (“SA Museum Foundation”). All artists are encouraged to enter. Staff from the South Australian Museum, the SA Museum Foundation and people involved with the administration or judging of the Waterhouse are not eligible to enter.

2. The subject for “The Waterhouse” is natural science, which for the purpose of the competition deals with our natural world and the sciences associated with it. For example: biology, geology, astronomy, chemistry and physics. It also includes natural history. Artworks submitted can be in any form of visual fine art, with the exception of photography. To be eligible, the work must have been produced no earlier than January 2016.

3. Entry is only via the online entry system at www.thewaterhouse.com.au. No other form of entry will be accepted. Entrants may upload one image file per entry only. Artists may include multiple views of the work in that file if they wish, provided an image of the entire work is clearly present. Artists will need to provide a one page CV outlining their artistic career.

4. The competition period is 11am Wednesday 17 January 2018 until 5pm Friday 16 March 2018, Australian Central Daylight Time.

5. Each artist may submit up to three entries. The entry fee is AU$55 (plus GST) for each entry in the Open Prize, and AU$30 (plus GST) per entry in the Waterhouse Emerging Artists’ Prize.
Artists may enter in one category only. The Emerging Artists’ Prize is restricted to emerging artists. There are no restrictions on who can enter the Open Prize. All entrants are eligible for the People’s Choice Dr Wendy Wickes Memoriam Prize and the Scientists’ Choice Award. “Emerging Artist” means artists in the early years of their professional practice. For the purposes of this competition, an emerging artist is an artist who has either never had a solo exhibition, or had their first solo exhibition less than five years ago.

6. Works must not exceed the size limit of 2 × 2 x 2m when displayed, and all works must fit through a standard door when packed for transport (2m x 0.9m). Floor-mounted works must not exceed a weight of 500kg. Wall and ceiling mounted works must not exceed a weight of 30kg. Artworks must be supplied ready for display or hanging: flat D rings are preferred for wall-mounted works. No work can have one dimension greater than 2m in length. This will include any supports if supplied. The SA Museum Foundation may supply or arrange certain display furniture at its discretion. For screen-based works the SA Museum Foundation will supply a 48” wall mounted LED screen for single screen presentations or two 32” wall mounted LED screens for dual screen presentations. The SA Museum Foundation will supply headphones for presentation of any accompanying soundtrack. Artists must supply any equipment for digital presentations outside the parameters above, which meet the overall size allowances for all artworks. Any additional equipment must be fit for five months’ public display. Safety will be assessed by the SA Museum Foundation prior to display. Any artworks with electrical components must be supplied by the artist with current test and tag to verify their safety.

7. The judges will select finalists’ works for exhibition from the image provided for each entry and each finalist shall be notified accordingly. Inclusion of finalists in the exhibition and the manner of exhibiting of each included work shall be at the sole discretion of the SA Museum Foundation.

8. Finalists’ works that are selected for exhibition must be sent to the South Australian Museum in person or by courier at the artist’s expense and must be free of all charges. The SA Museum Foundation will not pay any expenses. The selected works must arrive between Monday 14 May and Friday 18 May 2018, between 10am and 5pm. All works submitted must be as represented in the photograph provided by the artist. If the work differs from the photograph submitted, or exceeds the size limits, the work will be ineligible for a prize and may not be included in the exhibition at the discretion of the SA Museum Foundation. Works that arrive damaged may be ineligible for a prize and may not be included in the exhibition at the discretion of the SA Museum Foundation. Artist would be notified accordingly. Artists will remain responsible for collecting any work that is not included in the exhibition.

9. The SA Museum Foundation will insure all works while in its custody. This will be to the value of the sale price less commission stated by the entrant in the Entry Form. The SA Museum Foundation will not be responsible for uninsured loss or for loss or damage exceeding the insured amount.
Artists are responsible for the safe transit of works to the South Australian Museum. The SA Museum Foundation will not be responsible for any loss or damage of works in transit. Artists are advised to arrange suitable insurance for transit.

10. The exhibition will be open at the South Australian Museum from Friday 8 June until Sunday 5 August 2018 from 10am to 5pm daily.

11. The artist agrees that all works exhibited shall be for sale. The sale price indicated in the Entry Form shall apply and shall remain fixed for the duration of the exhibition. Artworks entered as a series of panels or objects will be sold as an entire work. The SA Museum Foundation will charge 40% commission on all sales (which shall be deducted from the indicated sale price).

12. All prizes are non-acquisitive.

13. The entries will be judged on their artistic merit. Judges will also consider the artwork’s success in linking art and natural science. The judges’ decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into. No feedback will be given on works that are not selected for display.

14. The prize winners, except the winner of the People’s Choice Dr Wendy Wickes Memoriam Prize and the Scientists’ Choice Award, will be announced on Thursday 7 June 2018. The People’s Choice Dr Wendy Wickes Memoriam Prize and the Scientists’ Choice Award will be announced on Thursday 26 July 2018.

15. All works entered must be available for the duration of the exhibition and for tour if applicable. Selected works may travel interstate at the conclusion of the exhibition in Adelaide. They will tour at the expense of the SA Museum Foundation. The artist or purchaser must arrange for collection of their works from the South Australian Museum at the end of the tour, at their expense.

16. By entering, the artist consents to images of their works being reproduced, and their biographical information and/or photograph being used by the South Australian Museum and/or the SA Museum Foundation, and their agents, without additional compensation.

17. At the conclusion of the exhibition, all unsold works not touring must be collected from the South Australian Museum, Adelaide, on Thursday 9 August or Friday 10 August 2018, between 10am and 5pm. If any works are to be returned by courier, this must be arranged by the artist or purchaser (as applicable) at their expense, and must happen during this time frame.

18. The artist warrants that their entry and any other works and materials submitted are original, are the property of the artist and do not infringe any third-party rights. The artist shall, at any time requested by the South Australian Museum, execute such documents and do such acts as may be reasonably required to perfect the rights granted to them by these Conditions. By entering, the artist further agrees to indemnify and hold the South Australian Museum, the South Australian Museum Foundation and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, parents, subsidiaries, successors, and assigns, harmless from any liability or damages of any kind, including legal fees and costs, resulting from any claim of infringement or other proprietary right of any person or entity.

19. Any works not collected within the time specified shall be dealt with in accordance with the Unclaimed Goods Act 1987 (SA).

20. The SA Museum Foundation is the sole owner of the information collected from the entry forms and any other information submitted, and will not sell, share, or rent this information to others except for the sole purpose of advertising or promoting the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize unless express permission is given by the entrant.